On the game:
“There were moments that we (Los Angeles Lakers) gave up a foul shot or a rebound that turned into a three-point shot. There were extra shots that we gave them (Miami HEAT) and we didn’t rebound. You have to give them credit. They were fast and cover a lot of ground.”

“Turnovers were the problem in the last nine minutes of the game. Again, you have to give them (Miami HEAT) credit. We just didn’t make the right play at the right time; they did.”

“They (Miami HEAT) were quicker to the ball. All the 50/50 balls they got and they are much more athletic than we (Los Angles Lakers) are. We need to be a little bit more alert. Our foot speed is not as good as their food speed.”

“We (Los Angeles Lakers) tried to make some hard passes that we didn’t complete.”

On LeBron James:
“He (LeBron James) is so efficient at shooting. He really has no weaknesses. He is about as good as you can get, I would think. Maybe someone else will come along who is better, but he is playing really well right now.”

“He (LeBron James) shoots three-pointers better, he posts up and keeps working on his game and getting better. That is scary.”

On the Los Angeles Lakers:
“We (Los Angeles Lakers) competed tonight. We are making strides. The Miami HEAT set the bar so this is good for us and we will use it as a learning experience.”

On Metta World Peace:
“Well, he (Metta World Peace) struggled on defense against LeBron James, so I don’t know if that is struggling for anybody. He (LeBron James) is just so good.”

Earl Clark:

On the game:
“They just hit some tough shots. We had some turnovers at the end. Dwyane (Wade) and LeBron (James) took the game over. We got to slow down and execute.

On the road trip:
“I loved the way we played. We didn’t give in. We’re coming along. We’re going to keep fighting.”

On LeBron James:
“He’s tough. He’s strong, fast and can shoot the ball. He’s just a great player. That’s all I can say.”

Steve Nash:

On the game:
“We had our chances, but we weren’t good enough tonight. We had too many breakdowns. I think also that we had an opportunity to stretch the lead many times in the game. We didn’t deserve it (the win). Tonight we did a good job in areas for long stretches, but not well enough. At times, we got a little bit stagnant. ”

On the road trip:
“It’s not a disastrous trip, but we would’ve liked to have gotten another one. We still have a chance to continue a run here on out.”

On the challenge to countering the Miami HEAT:
“They have terrific athletes, especially on the perimeter with Dwyane (Wade) and LeBron (James). You got to take care of the ball and keep them out of transition.”

On LeBron James:
“He’s been even better than last year, this year. He’s playing at a level rarely seen.”

On the team:
“We’re still trying to find ourselves. It’s hard. We had a lot of injuries. We haven’t had a lot of time on the court together. We’re not a fully formed team.”

Kobe Bryant:

On LeBron James:
“It’s very difficult (to guard LeBron James). He’s playing exceptional basketball. I think he’s figured out his game and how to use his size. I think he’s a little more focused than when he was younger. When you’re a young player, particularly him, you expect things to happen. Your career seems like it’s endless. I think he’s at the stage of his career in which he’ll value each year; and take the significance to his training and take the significance to focus for each game. I think it’s taken his game to another level. It’s tough. They have some great pieces around him too that makes it tough to lock in on him. He’s a fantastic passer. With his size, he can look over the defense like Magic (Earvin Johnson) could. At his size, I think it’s important that he’s added to his game is the ability to square up and shoot. He seems to have a lot of confidence in his jumper, which opens up the rest of the game for him. He seems to have a phenomenal year every year.”

On the game:
“For the most part, we played hard. They have a couple of sensational players over there (Dwyane Wade and LeBron James). They made some big plays. Dwyane (Wade) got himself going in the fourth quarter that created a cushion for them. He started doing what Dwyane Wade does, making sensational play after sensational play. They carried the momentum from there. We got to chase down some rebounds. We did okay on the glass, but it seemed like they got all the big ones that kind of turned the tide.”

On the road trip::
“Pau’s (Gasol) injury is a big setback on this road trip. I felt like this trip could have been a little bit more successful. All in all, it’s okay.”

On forgetting about Dwyane Wade’s greatness:
“I don’t (forget how good Dwyane Wade is). I’m definitely not in that category. Not me. I know what kind of problem he is. I tried to focus on him as much as I can. They (Miami HEAT) have two very special players; two of the best that we have seen. He seems to be rounding into form. You saw that break way dunk that he had. That’s the younger Dwyane (Wade).”

On an unfair advantage playing the Miami HEAT:
“I can’t complain about it since I had another guy (Shaquille O’Neal) some odd years ago that dominated the league. I can’t really say too much.”

Erik Spoelstra:

On the game:
“Well we had to fight for that one. That’s good. We had to scrap, change our mentality a little bit there in the third quarter. We were way too caught up in the officiating. Regardless of what we thought or not, including myself, it was distracting us at the task at hand. We just focused on things we could control and that’s playing better and doing our job. Our activity level all the way up to that point was very good. Then it spiked to another level in the third quarter, but we did it with a better discipline and focus and commitment in the fourth quarter.”

On the game and the HEAT’s defense:
“In the first three quarters it wasn’t the lack of effort. Our guys were being active we just made a lot of mistakes.”

“We just had a much better focus and commitment in the fourth quarter. Then you couple that with the activity and you get the deflections and the steals and so forth.”

On Dwyane Wade’s play in the fourth quarter:
“Both ends he was tireless tonight. I planned on getting him out for a couple minutes in the fourth quarter, but he was playing with so much energy on both ends of the court. Then in the last five minutes he had to take the challenge against [Kobe] Bryant. So he was doing it at both ends. That’s what makes him special, LeBron [James] is special, Chris [Bosh] is special. That’s why we wanted all three of those guys to set the tone for our franchise because they are true, two-way players. They are franchise players. To be a real franchise player you have to be a two-way player and you have to be committed to it at both ends of the court.”

“Offensively he just made all the right decisions. He was aggressive, but he also got off the ball when he needed to. He set up his teammates for open looks.”

On LeBron James’ fifth straight game where he scored over thirty points:
“I say this to Miami fans . . . don’t take it for granted. He’s making greatness look easy.”

“His game has improved over the years, but secondly, because of the spacing and the trust that there isn’t the stress level on his part, or any of our guys, that you have to make the shot. They feel more confident now than ever in the offense. If you don’t have it the next guy will be able to make the play. There is a freedom of mind when you play that way. He is a very intellectual basketball player, so he feels that.”

On Chris Bosh’s play:
“I thought that once he got his flow in that first sweat and that second wind he really helped us and found a comfort zone. His rebounding was great. His activity level was great. He just does things that are rock solid for us. We all know that. You don’t want to take it for granted but every time he is out, even with the big blow out the other night, you just realize how many little things that he does for us to be successful.”

On Mario Chalmers’ and Norris Cole’s play in tandem:
“What we want is 48 minutes of rock solid, point guard basketball. In the tenure of this team we probably play more point guard oriented basketball than we have in the past. So it’s critical that those guys give us positive minutes. They root for each other. They’re learning how to be effective in a hybrid point guard position for us.”

Dwyane Wade:

On the game:
“No matter what is going on in LA (Los Angeles) it is always fun to play that team because you know you’re always going to get their best, they’re going to compete. Kobe Bryant is one of the best competitors ever to play this game. You have to bring your A game no matter what. It was a fun game to play here on a Sunday afternoon. Our fans were in it and we were up for the challenge.”

“We had a few breakdowns early on which a team will have but when it comes down to it we understand what we have to do for each other on both ends of the floor.”

LeBron James:

On the game:
“You could feel the buzz in the arena today. We were just happy that we were able to play our game, weather some of their storms that they had and come out with a win.”

On Dwyane Wade:
“He was great, better than good. His legs are under him, you can tell on his jump shot, he is finishing up top and he is penetrating and getting to the rim too. He is getting healthier and healthier each and everyday and each and every game. It is a huge plus for our team and I know how great he feels right now.”

“We understand how great he is and how much he means to our team. He is a big part of our team and we can’t win without him.”

Chris Bosh:

On the game:
“I love winning. I’ve been on teams where it (to win one ball game) was the hardest thing in the world to do. It never gets old.”

“It is good to be back out there. It is kind of weird not playing.”

“Any time I go out there I expect to play the regular game.”

On LeBron James:
“You come to expect it a little bit. He has really improved this year. As amazing as that is to say, he finds a way to get better.”

“It is the same shot selection, they are just going down.”

“We all want to be aggressive, not only shooting the ball but taking the ball to the rim and trying to get to the free-throw line and get some easy points.”

“Maintaining the save level of consistency with the efficiency is very unique. I don’t think anybody has really seen it before.”

“Throughout the course of the season he just finds a way to get better.”

“Now he is posting the same numbers with less shots. It just sounds crazy but he just gets it done.”

On Dwyane Wade:
“When he gets on a roll we all know how he is. We called some great plays for him. He took what the defense gave him. He was doing pretty much everything.”

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LAKERS-HEAT PREVIEW

By JORDAN GARRETSON

Posted Feb 09 2013 4:16PM

The Miami Heat took down one Los Angeles team in their last game. They'll only wait two days to get a shot at the other one.

If LeBron James continues his stellar stretch of play, the Heat have to like their chances to continue their recent domination of the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

James is in the midst of another MVP-caliber season and has been all but unstoppable during Miami's four-game winning streak, averaging 30.8 points and 72.9 percent from the field.

He scored 30 and shot 9 of 11 to lead the Heat to a 111-89 victory over the Clippers on Friday, lifting a team that was without Chris Bosh and Ray Allen due to the flu. Miami (33-14) improved to 21-3 at home.

"He's the best player in the game and he's continuing to reinvent himself," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "This guy isn't trying to shy away from work ethic or preparation. He's getting after it. Our film sessions, he treats them like he's a coach. He sees something, he'll point it out to the guys.

"He's continuing to improve. And quite frankly, we need it."

James is shooting a career-best 56.0 percent, and his 42.0 percent 3-point shooting is a sizeable improvement from last season's 36.2 mark that was also the highest of his career.

"I want to continue to push the button, continue to get better, maximize my potential and not waste an opportunity," said James, averaging 31.7 points in his last three games against Los Angeles.

He scored a season-high 39 and shot 17 of 25 to lead the Heat to their fifth win in six meetings with the Lakers, 99-90 on Jan. 17.

The Lakers continue to seek offensive continuity despite having the chance to close out a seven-game road trip with 5-2 record.

Los Angeles (24-27) has followed a four-game skid by winning seven of nine, though the most recent victory - 100-93 at Charlotte on Friday - wasn't exactly impressive. The Lakers trailed by 20 in the second half.

Kobe Bryant came to the rescue by scoring all 20 of his points after the break and finished with eight assists and seven rebounds. The star guard, however, wasn't pleased with his team's offensive execution.

"We have to play the right way," Bryant said. "When we have shots available, we take them. If we don't, move the ball on. It can't be about individual touches. It can't be about that."

The Lakers are still having trouble taking care of the ball despite their surge, averaging 14.8 turnovers during the 7-2 stretch - just below their season mark of 15.3 that's among the most in the league.

Acting as the facilitator for the offense, Bryant's 5.3 assists per game are his most in five seasons and he's averaging 8.1 in the last nine contests.

"I think in the future that is how you're going to see us play with Kobe getting guys involved early on," reserve forward Antawn Jamison said. "Seeing how it goes, and then as the game goes into the fourth quarter he begins to take over a little bit."

Bryant struggled to find his shot in the first meeting, scoring 22 but going 8 of 25 from the floor as the Lakers committed 20 turnovers to six by the Heat. Dwyane Wade added 27 points for Miami.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

SEASON & SERIES NOTES; CONNECTIONS
The Lakers currently trail their season series with Miami 0-1, after splitting last season’s
series with the Heat (1-1). In all, the Lakers have dropped just three season series ever to
Miami (2010-11, 2004-05, 1992-93). This will be the 50th meeting between the two
franchises with the Lakers holding a 30-19 all-time lead. Overall, the Lakers are 4-6 in their
last 10 meetings with the Heat and snapped a four-game losing streak to Miami with their
most recent victory (3/4/12). In Miami, the Lakers are 2-8 in their last 10 games and have
lost in seven of their last eight trips to South Florida. In Los Angeles, the Lakers are 9-5 alltime against the Heat at STAPLES Center. In recent series history, in their first meeting of
the 2009-10 season (12/4/09), the Lakers defeated the Heat on a Kobe Bryant one-foot,
running bank-shot three-point field goal from the top, left side of the arc at the buzzer. In
their second meeting, they fell to the Heat 111-114 in overtime at Miami (3/4/10). On
12/25/10, the Heat held Los Angeles to a series-low 80 points. In 30 games including 26
starts, Kobe Bryant is averaging 24.7 points against Miami and holds the high individual
game for the series with 42 points on Christmas Day against the Heat in 2004. Miami’s
Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh played alongside Kobe Bryant and Dwight
Howard on the gold medal winning US Men’s Olympic Basketball Team at the 2008 Summer
Olympics in Beijing while Bryant and James were again teammates on the 2012 gold medal
winning team in London. In 19 career games against the Lakers, James is averaging 26.3
points per game (500) with his team posting a 12-7 record in those contests. Heat assistant
coach Bob McAdoo played four seasons with the Lakers from 1981-85, helping Los Angeles to
two NBA Championships (1982, 1985) while averaging 12.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in the
regular season and 13.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in 61 postseason games. Heat President Pat
Riley won four NBA Championships as head coach of the Lakers, posting a regular season
record of 533-194 (.733) and a 102-47 (.685) postseason mark in nine seasons with the team.
Heat forward Shane Battier and Pau Gasol were both rookies with the Grizzlies in 2001-02 and
played alongside each other in Memphis through the 2005-06 season along with Heat forward
Mike Miller, who was on the Grizzlies with Gasol for six seasons (2002-08). Heat forward
Rashard Lewis played alongside Dwight Howard for four seasons (2007-11) in Orlando and
together led the team to the 2009 NBA Finals.

LAST REGULAR SEASON MEETING
In a game that featured 13 ties, nine lead changes and in which neither team led by double-figures, the Lakers went scoreless for the final 2:33 of the game after evening
things up at 90 and saw Miami score nine unanswered points down the stretch en route to a 99-90 loss to the Heat at STAPLES Center. Kobe Bryant, who went 5-for-9 (3-4
3FG) from the field in the fourth but struggled to 3-of-16 shooting in the previous three quarters, finished with a team-high 22 points. Metta World Peace (16 points), Dwight
Howard (13 points (4-7 FG, 5-13 FT), game-high 16 rebounds), Antawn Jamison (12 points) and Pau Gasol (12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) rounded out the Lakers in
double-figures while Steve Nash added nine points (4-8 FG) and a team-high seven assists in the loss. LeBron James was one of just two Heat players in double-figures,
posting a game-high 39 points (17-25 FG), team-high seven rebounds, game-high eight assists and three steals. Dwyane Wade was the other, totaling 27 points (11-20
FG) and five assists while Chris Bosh rounded out Miami’s big three with seven points (3-10 FG), six rebounds and six steals. The Lakers, who were outscored in the paint
68-28 and 21-5 on the break, used a 14-3 run midway through the fourth to take a two-point lead with 6:33 remaining but were outscored 18-7 the rest of the way.